The United Nations said on Friday August 19 it had released emergency funds to help meet humanitarian needs in Haiti, where the population is plagued by gang violence.
UN humanitarian aid chief Martin Griffiths has released $5 million (nearly 5 million euros) from the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund, his spokesman said in Geneva, Jens Laerke, to journalists.
'High level of insecurity'
These funds will make it possible to support the activities of the UN humanitarian agencies on the ground and thus come to the aid of more than 100,000 people.
"
The high level of insecurity hinders the access of humanitarian actors to people
" who need help, he also indicated.
Since July, hundreds of people have been killed in violence between gangs in Cité Soleil, a suburb of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, according to the UN.
Many others were injured or missing.
Jens Laerke also reported that gangs recruit children.
In addition, he said, "
sexual violence is rampant
."
The UN estimates that nearly 280,000 people are directly affected by this situation of violence between gangs in Cité Soleil.
According to the UN, 1.5 million people are "
trapped in the neighborhoods of the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince controlled by the gangs
".
“
They are trapped.
They cannot venture outside because of this violence
,” insisted Jens Laerke.
An enduring political crisis
For more than two years, gangs have multiplied villainous kidnappings in Port-au-Prince, kidnapping people of all socio-economic origins and all nationalities.
At least 155 kidnappings were committed in June, compared to 118 in May, according to the Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights.
Haiti has been mired in a political crisis for several years and the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 has profoundly worsened the situation.
Gangs also enjoy widespread impunity and violence has increased in recent years.
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Jens Laerke acknowledged that the $5 million is not going to be enough to meet the huge needs of the country, where around 43% of the population needs help.
The UN has appealed for $373 million to enable humanitarian aid to Haiti this year, but has only received 14% of the requested funds.
